Upper Respiratory Problems Nursing Care

Flashcards covering epistaxis, obstructive sleep apnea, tracheostomy care, acute pharyngitis, and head and neck cancers based on the provided lecture notes.

Epistaxis

A nosebleed that can be caused by irritation, trauma, infection, foreign bodies, tumors, systemic diseases like hypertension, or treatments like chemotherapy and anticoagulants.

Anterior Epistaxis Care

Management involves positioning the patient upright and leaning forward, applying lateral pressure or ice, using nasal tampons, and teaching the patient to avoid blowing their nose.

Posterior Epistaxis Care

A medical emergency requiring hospitalization, posterior packing with balloon catheters, monitoring respiratory status, and teaching the patient to avoid aspirin, NSAIDs, and strenuous activities.

Alae

The distal part of the nose below the bony bridge that should be pinched tightly against the septum for at least 10 minutes to stop a nosebleed.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

A disorder characterized by repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep, resulting in obstructive apneas, hypopneas, or respiratory effort-related arousals.

OSA Risk Factors

Factors include increased age, male gender, obesity, nasopharyngeal structural abnormalities, and smoking.

Morning Headaches

A clinical feature of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) alongside daytime sleepiness, snoring, choking, or gasping during sleep.

Polysomnography

The gold standard diagnostic test for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) which uses sensors to measure airflow, eye movement, brain activity, and chest/belly movement.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)

The mainstay therapy for OSA that maintains upper airway patency without augmenting ventilation; it is the simplest and cheapest PAPT option.

BiPap

A noninvasive ventilation method that uses two pressures (one during inhalation and one during exhalation) for patients with neuromuscular disease, chest wall deformity, OSA, or COPD.

Shiley Trach

A type of tracheostomy tube featuring a disposable inner cannula and a cuff.

Jackson Trach

A type of tracheostomy tube featuring a reusable inner cannula and no cuff.

Obturator

A component of a tracheostomy kit with a rounded tip used for insertion; it must be kept taped at the bedside at all times in case of accidental decannulation.

Acute Pharyngitis

Inflammation of the pharynx or tonsils, which is most often viral but can be caused by Group A strep (bacterial) or Candida albicans (fungal).

Nystatin Swish & Swallow

The prescribed treatment for fungal pharyngitis caused by Candida albicans infections.

Rapid Streptococcal Antigen Testing

A diagnostic test indicated for pharyngitis when the patient lacks overt viral features such as rhinorrhea, cough, oral ulcers, or conjunctivitis.

Head and Neck Cancers

Cancers often caused by tobacco use (85%) or HPV infection (in patients under 50), usually manifesting as locally advanced disease at the time of diagnosis.

Total Laryngectomy

The surgical removal of the larynx, which separates the airway from the mouth and esophagus, requiring the patient to breathe through a permanent stoma.

Electrolarynx (Artificial Larynx)

An external battery-powered device used to restore oral communication by providing a vibratory source for speech.

Tracheoesophageal (TE) Voice Restoration

A procedure involving a voice prosthesis in situ to restore communication after a laryngectomy.

Esophageal Speech

A hands-free speech technique where oral air is compressed into the esophagus and expelled past the pharyngoesophageal (PE) segment to produce sound.

Radical Neck Dissection

The surgical removal of all tissue on the side of the neck from the mandible to the clavicle, including muscle, nerve, salivary gland, and major blood vessels.

Pulmonary Toilet

Post-operative care for neck dissection that involves clearing oral and tracheal secretions; blood-tinged sputum is considered normal for the first 1-2 days.